Completed [Bronze Wood] Over The River (Caesarion)

[Aoren]

4th of Spring, 514 AV
12th Bell

Aoren was seated atop a crate near the entrance to the Great Bazaar. He had spent the majority of his morning haggling with merchants and forming travel plans to get ready for his upcoming departure. It was a strange feeling to be sitting there in the bowels of Stormhold Castle knowing that it would be years before he ever laid eyes upon those stone walls again. That was the truth of the matter. Aoren had no intention of seeing Syliras again in the near future. He needed a change in his perspective on life and the only way to do that was to remove himself from the life he had lived thus far. He was grateful for all that the Fortress City of Peace had offered him in the way of shelter his entire life it was simply time to move on. At least for the time being.

Isikai gently nudged his hand with his nose. The gesture made Aoren smile. He hadn’t been around the dog for an entire day and already he could tell that was Isikai’s way of asking for attention. Aoren was happy to give it to the pup. He gently scratched behind the dog’s ear for which he received a nuzzle and several attempts to nip at his fingers. The Drykas man had not yet figured out exactly how he was going to raise and train the pup but he knew that he wanted Isikai as both a companion and protector. It would be something to focus on during the journey ahead. That…and making something out of the relationship between himself and Caesarion.

“What am I going to do eh, pup?” Isikai contented himself with playfully attacking his wrist grasping it with his paws. The pup was completely oblivious to what weighed heavy on Aoren’s mind. For a moment he envied that obliviousness but then thought better of it. There was nothing to gain by ignoring a problem. The only way to fix it was to confront it and work with it. Part of him was dreading the impromptu camping trip that was about to take place. The other part of him was looking forward to it. He was being given a chance to reconcile his past mistakes. Not many people were often given that chance.

Aoren looked up from playing with his pup to the mass of people busying themselves in the market. He has arrived earlier that morning almost as soon as the merchants set up shop. At his feet were two separate stacks of equipment. The first was for Aoren, the second was for Caesarion. Both stacks were comprised of roughly the same items give or take a few estimations as far as differences in height and weight were concerned.

There lay all of the equipment they would need not only on the road to Zeltiva but during their camping trip as well. It would be a learning experience for them both. Aoren wasn’t particularly gifted as life outside the walls of Syliras. He had never had a reason to try living in the wilderness when the Knighthood provided food and shelter so long as you were a productive member of society. That would change. It had to change. It wouldn’t change overnight but this would be a start.

Aoren turned his gaze toward the entrance to the Great Bazaar where he expected to meet Caesarion. It was nearing midday. He was fairly certain of that. If Caesar was punctual he would be arriving soon and then they could talk about a few more things that would happen in the days to come.

[Caesarion]

"Ehehe, that's alright," he told the merchant. The guy was trying to get him into a whole bunch of stuff that he didn't want. Archery lessons? Dueling with... rapiers? That didn't seem very Syliran, what with their love of things long and broad. Caesarion didn't want anything but the longsword and the shield. Just the longsword, and the shield. It was hard to get that into this guy's head.

Eventually, of course, he managed to slip away. He'd put on the boots he got earlier, and sheathed his blade into his scabbard. His shield was mounted on his back, which made him seem and feel stronger than he had ever. It was quite large, in fact, and so very heavy. It strained him for now, but he'd get used to it in time. It was nice to finally have a weapon of his own, a blade of his own, armor of his own. He was fully equipped; his scale armor covered his body, leather over everything in-between. His long boots helped support his stand. Caesarion was as ready as he thought he could be, though of course there was always something more. Aoren was surely a more masterful planner than he, so he'd get around to informing him of just what that 'something' was. Now, he just had to find him.

Caesarion was, in fact, exceptionally punctual. He always made it on time to important events, mostly because he knew the consequences of tardiness. He'd been scolded, even battered many times as a child for embarrassing his family with such failings. Like a whip could make a horse march, or a scold could get a dog to obey, a man could be taught by action. Every day, he learned of that a little more. Every day, he hoped to make that fact a friend rather than a foe. Right now, it was Aoren that he wanted to get a message through to. He wanted the man to know that he had changed. When Caesarion was derelict and forgotten, he dreamt of some sort of redemption, and he found it. He wanted his old companion to see.

Some time after he left the smith, he found Aoren, a lucky glance in some far-off direction. When he laid his eyes on him, he sighed, and started a slow pace over to the man. His eyes were to the ground, barely keeping focus on where he was going. It was a little rough to approach the stoic Endrykas, as he seemed to perpetuate this feeling of awkwardness and disappointment whenever he was around the Ravokian man. Around others, Caesarion was strong and fierce. Around Aoren, he was just as he had been when he first laid his eyes upon this city. It was difficult to stand on equal footing with him. Maybe one day, he would. Just not today.

He arrived, only a few feet off from the Skycrown. He was fully armed and armored, and he greeted him with a smile on his face. It was just a hope, but he figured that he could dispel the foul air if he tried. Aoren wasn't a cruel man, just a withdrawn one.

"I'm here, Aoren. Got anything for me?"

[Aoren]

Aoren had to admit that seeing Caesarion walk up dressed as he was hit him by surprise. The slight arching of an eyebrow and the steady blinking of his eyes was the only outward display of his emotions however. He took in the sight of the Ravokian man. For a moment he could envision Caesar facing down a terrible foe but he wiped such things from his mind choosing to focus on the here and now. The man looked positively defeated as if part of him were dreading what was to come.

“Maybe I’ve been too harsh with him?” Maybe. Whatever doubts Aoren might have had in his feelings toward Caesarion over past actions he tried to prevent from showing on his face. He gestured to the equipment on his right.

“You’ll find most everything you need there.” He stood up from where he sat on the crates gently dislodging his wrist from Isikai’s paws. The pup yipped dropping down onto his forepaws eyeing Caesarion with his tail wagging excitedly in the air. After a brief moment Isikai hopped down from the crate padding up to Caesarion sitting down on the ground looking up at him expectantly. Aoren folded his arms over his chest watching the exchange between man and canine with a slight smile. He didn’t comment on it but pressed on explaining the gear that he’d purchased.

“You’ll find a tent, bedroll, blanket, basic camping supplies and navigational tools in the pack. There are also some saddlebags for carrying gear on your horse which we will be getting after our camping trip. I am not a masterful rider but I know enough to get a horse from one point to another without falling off. We can worry about the finer points of riding along the way. I’m sure we’ll have more than enough time.” Leaning down Aoren began picking up his equipment getting it all into place to be ready to get out of the Bazaar and on the road to the Bronze Wood. When he was situated he stood up straight adjusting the pack over his shoulders to get comfortable. Aoren then picked up a composite shortbow carrying it firmly in his left hand. While it was not a new item it was certainly something Caesar hadn’t seen him with before.

He wasn’t the least bit skilled with it. The bow had been acquired over the Fall season after the events that had lead up to him being marked by the Goddess of Healing. He hadn’t found the time to venture out of the city and practice with it the whole of winter due to being consumed with his work. That would need to change over the duration of their journey. He intended to get some practice in while they were out though he didn’t expect to accomplish much given his inexperience with the weapon. On the subject of weaponry he noticed the longsword on Caesarion’s hip and the shield mounted on his back. He looked a little odd carrying both items.

“When did you get those?” He nodded to the sword and shield. Aoren figured that they wouldn’t get anywhere if he gave the Ravokian man the complete cold shoulder. Idle conversation might not get them anywhere but it was better than absolute silence. Aoren didn’t have a problem with the idea of silence but he got the feeling that it would only make Caesarion even more uncomfortable than he already was. He would listen to the other man’s response giving a short nod before turning slightly making it clear he was ready to leave.

“You know,” He paused as he contemplated the venture they were about to embark upon. “I think I am looking forward to spending a few days outside the walls of the city.”

Any time outside the walls of Syliras was dangerous but it was long overdue. Aoren knew they would have to be vigilant but if they were careful and didn’t act reckless he was certain they wouldn’t die of some terrible accident.

At least he hoped they wouldn’t.

[Caesarion]

As an ode to his excitable nature, he quickly grew interested in what Aoren picked up at the bazaar. The other man referred him to some crates, and then he began to explain just what filled them. It was sort of a lot, but not really. It was the essentials, and that was all. There were also some supplies for whenever he got his... horse, which was going to be something of an experience. "Do you plan on renting this horse, or buying it?" He asked, though he wasn't even sure if renting horses was a thing. His tone was forward, unlike usual. A particularly perceptive individual might've been able to notice that he was trying a little hard to be unlike himself. The indicator was in his posture, which screamed a sort of desperate anxiety. "If you plan on buying it, I hope you don't intend to let me keep it. The thing'll probably end up dead in a few weeks. I'm not an able animal caretaker. Argos and Max sort of just take care of themselves." They provided their own meals, in a manner of speaking. They took the scraps from what they hunted, whatever Caesarion didn't need.

Caesarion pressed aside his thoughts, and began to gather whatever Aoren implicated as his. It was sort of uncomfortable with all the armor on, to be bending over and picking up "luggage", but he did so regardless. "Speaking of," he started to speak, "I'll have to go grab them from where I left them. I have a friend who lives near here, Gallagher, he's a hunting buddy of mine. He likes to play with my dogs, so sometimes I leave them over there. I didn't really want them going with me to a smithy, because somehow I got this hunch that it just wouldn't be a good idea..." He shrugged. It was quite obvious that dogs didn't mesh with the fires of a forge and the sharpness of steel. They were too incompetent to avoid injury, in a place like that.

While he spoke of blades, he noticed that Aoren had a new weapon of his own. Composite, he'd seen that kind before. Sturdy bow, though not one decent for hunting or assassination. It was, however, a decent fit for the trip. That sort of bow was meant for... a more direct and aggressive confrontation. He doubted Aoren had any idea how to use it, though. That'd be kinda funny to watch, honestly; the stoic and unbreakable man stepping into a beginner's boots.

He glanced away for a second, eying the balcony of his good friend. Gallagher was right over there, and so were his dogs. He missed them a little, in some strange way. Any dog owner understood that one could become dependent on staring into the unusually silly and large canine eyes. Caesarion missed the goofy looks from his goofy dogs. It'd only been a few hours, too. "Those?" The Ravokian glanced back at his traveling companion, and shrugged. "Dunno. Sometimes things just appear in my apartment, without my consent. I think I might have an admirer." Total lie, but he figured it was better than a boring explanation of his trip to the smithy. When something was dull, Caesarion had this astounding ability to sharpen it. It just usually irritated people, was all. "The armor, though, I can tell you about that. I got it from... home. It was what my father gave me when I left. Some ancient old thing. He fixed it up a bit before he gave it to me, and... yeah." He was going to complain at first, but he didn't want to be that Caesarion anymore. In truth, his father didn't have to give him anything. He made his intentions clear. But, he did give Caesarion something. He paid for a caravan, mercenaries, he fixed up the family armor and...

Well, it put things into perspective for a while. The guy actually felt proud, wearing this old thing.

"You know, I'm a little excited too. The last time I went camping, it was when I was fourteen. It was with Rhaenon, and a few of his older and more suave friends. Didn't go all that well, but it was refreshing... in a weird occult way with some added sexual tension." He wouldn't elaborate on that, especially since he was just about to dash for Gally's door. "I'll be right back, Aoren," he informed the man. After those few words, he went to cross over, and knocked on his compatriot's door. He exchanged a few words with him, a big smile, and a warm hug. Then, Caesarion walked back to Aoren with his dogs in tow. "Just gonna let you know, my dogs will probably bully uh... Isi..." He poked his forehead. "Kai. Older dogs like to assert dominance. The little guy will pretty much get thrown into the backburner until he's developed enough. Sorry." The man looked over at the fledgling pup, and gestured his apology in advance.

[Aoren]

“I will be buying the horse. It will be yours for the duration of the trip and for as long a time as you see fit to own it afterwards. What you do with it after that is up to you but it will be yours.” He shrugged a shoulder. “I can’t say that I’m the best at caring for animals either but I will be learning.”

He knelt down running a hand over Isikai’s head earning a low growl and an attempt to maul his hand from the playful pup. Aoren smiled returning the playful gesture with a nudge causing the young dog to tumble backward. Isikai just jumped up and tackle his arm with even more fervor.The Drykas man laughed softly engaging in the small bout of play with the puppy before standing up again. Isikai contented himself with attacking Aoren’s boot. It was an amusing sight but he figured it was typical for the mindset of a young pup.

Aoren wasn’t entirely certain to be annoyed with Caesarion’s witty answer or amused. He settled for indifference. He felt it wouldn’t be a good idea to antagonize the situation by giving in to one feeling or the other. So he simply nodded accepting Caesarion’s answer for what it was.

“Sexual tension?” He blinked at that. Aoren then shook his head as if dismissing the subject. It was probably something he was better off not knowing. All in all he was looking forward to the trip that lay ahead. He just wasn’t entirely certain of how he felt about his current company. It would be rough going at first. Both of them had changed in the time they’d spent completely avoiding one another or in blissful ignorance of the other’s existence. It would be a little while before they were comfortable around each other again. He watched the Ravokian man trot off toward parts unknown for a few brief minutes. When he returned with his dogs the other man’s mood seemed to have improved. Aoren guessed it was because of the companionship offered by his canines.

“I think Kai,” He shortened the pup’s full name giving Caesar a smirk. “…will be able to fend for himself. It’s part of growing, just don’t get mad if I smack your hounds around a bit if they get too rough.” He pat the side of his thigh to grab Isikai’s attention. The pup perked up twisting his head in Aoren’s direction after having been distracted by a group of people shopping for wares. “Come on, boy.”

With that Aoren set out to leave both the Great Bazaar and the walls of Syliras behind for a few days. He didn’t speak much during the trek through the corridors of the castle. He didn’t truly feel a need to fill the air with words that would only make things more awkward. Conversation would come in due time but for the moment Aoren just needed the next few chimes to get his thoughts together. He kept his eyes forward, his mouth shut and only spared Caesarion the occasional glance just to make sure he hadn’t fallen behind. He didn’t slow down for the Ravokian either. He could tell from just casual observation that when it came to more physical activity, Caesarion was a bit lacking. If he intended to wear all of that armor, wield a sword and shield and make it in the wilderness that would have to change. They might have been traveling with a caravan but all the same, the world outside the safety of the city was one that wasn’t kind to the ill prepared. So, in his own way, Aoren intended to help prepare them both for those challenges.

When they had made their way through the Tiers of Stormhold Castle and through the gates of Syliras it was then at Aoren opened his mouth to speak.

“We’re going to be heading east toward the Avitar River. It is the same road that we will be taking on our journey to Zeltiva. The walk to the area that I have in mind will take a few bells to get to but once we’re there we can set up camp easily enough.” Shrugging his shoulders to adjust the weight of the equipment on his back, Aoren turned and began making his way along the road leading away from the gates of Syliras. He looked down to make sure that Isikai was still following along. The pup was panting but seemed happy to be out and about, free to roam any place that was beyond the boundaries of a cage.

The weather outside was cool enough but it would grow warmer as they walked further. He had a lingering suspicion that they would need to stop a few times but he was fine with that. The pack on his back would grow heavy but Aoren was determined to push through that. They needed as much time in the wilderness as was safely possible for the both of them. When they had fallen into a good rhythm of walk, the Drykas man glanced at Caesarion.

“So, what have you been doing this whole time?”

[Caesarion]

He wondered something. It was when Aoren informed him that, by choice, he'd be able to keep or dispose of his equidae... that this surfaced in his mind. Caesarion had to ask himself whether or not he was being cruel. Eventually, the relationship between the two men might find a common ground and begin to heal. At that point, they could find some joy in each other's presence. Right now, though, he felt very unfair. Aoren gave him all of these privileges; he offered him money, assistance, the ability to follow his dreams. Aoren wasn't some wealthy man who could do all of this on a whim. Caesarion, perhaps without thinking, begged him and caught him off guard. He appealed to his sense of morality. He appealed to the part of Aoren that maybe still wanted to see Caesarion find his way. Looking back on that, it seemed like an ill deed to ask for all of this. The more he learned about this trip, the more he realized what an awful request he'd made.

"I'll keep the horse," he told him. "It'll be a reminder of how good you've been to me. Not just now, but ever since I met you. You've always been... forgiving of my flaws." He didn't say much else. Sometimes, it was best to be simple rather than complex. Now, when things were so unsteady, even one word could set things in a downward motion. He would have to be careful.

There was still a room for a little bit of happiness, though, even while surrounded by fear of degradation and judgment. He laughed quite loudly when Aoren questioned his words; sexual tension? he asked. Indeed, there was a lot of that, there. Rhaenon's friend was smart, strong, and Caesarion was a teenage boy with the dreams and desires of one. It started off awkward, and ended with a mess of mutual anticipation. Of course, Caesarion was sort of a brat back then, so he didn't really promote the idea of a relationship. He was rude, condescending, and exceptionally... afraid. He was afraid of the Gods that the other boy worshiped, and the real world. He did not want to leave his mother's skirt yet. He was not ready.

In regards to his dogs, he shrugged his shoulders. "Sometimes smacking them isn't the best solution. Makes them feel more aggressive, heats up the moment. Are you experienced with dogs, Aoren?" He wasn't sure if that question would come off as mocking or not, but he felt he should know. They had three furry friends around now, so Aoren would definitely need to at least know the basics. Caesarion ran into a lot of messy situations when he first became an owner.

They both would have to learn a lot, about everything. Travel, weapons, people, each other. He was looking forward to them all, but in the moment, he was most excited about seeing the great walls of the ancient city by the sea. He wanted to smell the shores, and feel the cold air. It would be a great wonder to behold.

He almost missed his words, as his thoughts wandered towards the coast. Luckily, Caesarion wasn't quite that spacey. "I've been there before. Probably seen most of this area, while on the job. Just remember that there are a few other hunters out there, and dogs, and then there's wildlife. It doesn't help to be paranoid, but keep an open eye for what's around you. Any living creature can be very dangerous when their blood starts pumping." That sounded like some attempt at expert guidance, but Caesarion really didn't know shit about the wilds. He kept to a few secluded areas when he hunted. He just recalled, from a few experiences, that there were unpredictable elements when you were out in the open. He'd always been very afraid of other hunters.

"I've been doing Caesarion things. Freeing slaves, saving Mizahar, yeah." He giggled. "Not really, but there were some exciting things! I escaped the clutches of an evil hypnotist, found religion, learned how to pray flawlessly, and had a few extremely awkward meetings with an old confidant of mine." That last part was pretty obviously referring to Aoren, but only if you were Caesarion. A man could have tons of awkward meetings, and tons of confidants. "I also escaped poverty," he added as a last comment. That was definitely a winning moment for him.

[Aoren]

Taking comments in stride is sometimes the best policy. Aoren chose to do just that when Caesarion mentioned how good he’d apparently been to him. The Drykas man didn’t dismiss it but he didn’t truly acknowledge it either. He simply gave Caesar a nod of his head and a shrug then went about his business as if they’d just spoke about the weather.

“Actually, I am not very experienced with dogs.” He looked down at Isikai who was busying himself with chasing a fly back and forth. Aoren had no reason to lie. He had always been a man who appreciated the chance to learn something new. Raising a pup to a fully grown dog and trying to train him to be a friend and protector would be a challenge. Aoren didn’t know where to begin with him but he would start by showing him kindness and work his way from there. He looked down to Max and Argos. The two canines seemed far more reserved than his more free spirited Isikai. Aoren wondered if that would change as the pup grew older.

“I’d be happy to learn if you have advice on how to raise him properly.” He genuinely meant it. Though he may have his reservations about the man in his present company, Aoren wasn’t going to turn away the chance to learn something useful. If there was one thing that could be said about Caesarion in his favor at the moment, it was that he was at least trying to be more responsible. That was made even more apparent when he began speaking of his experiences in the wooded areas around the city.

“I’ve run into my fair share of danger while being out in the woods. Wolves, bandits, Drykas raiders turned comrades, a Balicani, all of that aside, I think we are both well aware of how wild the wilds can be.” He gave his companion a smile before trudging onward listening to him speak about some of the things that had happened to him during their time apart. At the mention of an evil hypnotist he remembered that Caesarion was a practitioner of the discipline, hypnotism as well as reimancy. Aoren briefly wondered how he could have forgotten, then again it was easy to forget a lot of things when you didn’t want to remember the person in the first place. It amazed Aoren just how many talents a person could possess and not appear to possess them.

“The Gods are very interesting to find when they want to be found.” Aoren was in possession of two unique marks from two different deities. The right side of his face bore the swirling sigils belonging to Rak’keli, Goddess of Health and Healing while the back of his right hand bore a mark belonging to her sister, Avalis. The goddesses were rather similar in their temperament as far as Aoren knew with Avalis being a far more quiet goddess but just as gentle and caring as her sister.

Silence fell over the two of them once again. It was still a little strained but it wasn’t as uncomfortable as before. The road stretched ever onward but it was a little less daunting than before.

[Caesarion]

Not very experienced in dogs, eh? Then they sort of had something in common. Caesarion wasn't much of a master at the little buggers, but he'd had them for some time, so he picked a few things up. Still, he didn't understand a lot of the visual and audible signs that they tried to portray to him. He didn't understand when they were hungry, or sick. They didn't know how to tell him. There were also some crazy things that some others seemed to know or at least wager -- like, apparently they found a place to defecate based on some energetic pull. That was what one guy told him, and he seemed like a very learned fellow. Honestly, it might've all been mumbo jumbo, but the whole universe was made up of that. Even just the concept of existing was confusing. Sure, all was made by the Gods. Who made the Gods? Who made whichever creature made the Gods? Raising dogs was as much about assumption as anything else in the world; you saw, experienced, and so you reacted. No one had any idea if they were actually right, they just had to hope.

That was rather philosophical of an explanation for something so straightforward, though. "I'll help you," he told him. "And hopefully you'll do a better job than I did. Max and Argos are crazy." The Ravokian laughed, and then decided to change subjects. Sometimes, he wondered if dogs had any idea when people were talking about them. They did understand names, and they were very perceptive. What if every time he called them dumb or insane, they noticed? Ugh, they'd probably hate him. He and Gally had a habit of degrading them as a form of showing affection.

"You seem to have experienced a lot more danger than I have. I guess I chose my hunting spots well," he smiled a little. If Caesarion ran into bandits and raiders, well, he would have no idea how to react. He'd run, or fight, or run while fighting. He'd probably die, because he was not fit for combat. He wasn't fit for much of anything save for being goofy and failing at his career. Thinking about a situation where... in any one second, he could have people swinging blades at him trying to tear him to bits... that was scary. But it was real. It happened to people all the time, all over the world. There was an unwarranted amount of cruelty that came with reality.

And an unwarranted amount of the unknown. It was true, he supposed, that the Gods were an interesting find. They were so in the open, so accessible. There were masses and temples dedicated to them, in every city. Yet, they could only really be found by one in need. Caesarion wondered if, during his initial discovery of his Goddess, she turned an ear to listen. Perhaps she did not feel his problems were as much of a problem as he thought they were. Maybe she just didn't care, or she wasn't real. It was foolish and fickle to wonder things like that, but how could one ever really know? Everyone was just a man, or just a woman. They were not Gods. They always had to guess, about everything. Dogs, the universe, life itself, and where did any of this guesswork lead to?

You might think that Caesarion was deep in thought, but no. He was always rowing back and forth between clarity and confusion. It was the sort of man he was, and would be until something greater brought him to his senses.

"You seem to know a lot about the Gods, Aoren," he said. Looking at his face, he could see that there was something new. He'd been marked, whether by a simple painter's needle or a God. And he knew of his other mark -- he'd told him about it near the time they first met, and he was hesitant to elaborate further. "Why does a God ever want to be found? What separates the chosen from the horde of the sheep who pray to them for years without answer? Is it a gradual process, or do some just assert themselves in a more magnetic way?" He was asking about marks, which was probably a dangerous thing to inquire about. Caesarion was very curious about the deities, and what they wanted. They chose their followers by means of harrowing, but the decision of who and where was confusing to him. In that regard, were they not as arbitrary as any human?

"Ha, I'm totally going nowhere. My train of thoughts is really jagged. It likes to take nosedives every now and then." He coughed. "Just tell me when we've arrived. I'll be philosophical in private, until then."

[Aoren]

“I would be happy for your help.” Aoren looked down where Isikai had fallen into step at his heels. The little pup was panting and looking around avidly. Overall there was an air of excitement around him. Aoren then turned his attention to Max and Argos. The two hounds were a bit more stoic compared to Isikai. They were more reserved and a great deal bigger. From what he had gathered though, when Isikai was fully grown he’d eclipse them both in size. It was an interesting thing to imagine. He looked from the pup scampering back and forth along the road to the two hounds faithfully striding by Caesar’s side.

“I’m sure it will be a learning experience for us both.” After that silence fell between the two for a few minutes. Aoren wasn’t really consumed with thoughts so much as he was just taking in his surroundings. The breeze flowing over the trees lining the road felt good considering the weight on Aoren’s shoulders. It would help stave off the sweat that would eventually bead on his forehead. For the moment however, he was fine. He wondered if the same could be said for Caesarion. He glanced over at his traveling companion. Caesar may have worn the leather armor of an aspiring adventurer but his appearance was misleading. Aoren knew for a fact he lacked experience in any form of self-defense beyond his magic and even then he wondered if the Ravokian man knew how to use that properly without getting himself killed.

“It’s probably because I’ve just spent more time outside the walls of the city than you have. That and I was more curious as a teenager than I am as an adult. Those lessons weren’t learned nicely, either.” There was a time when Aoren could have said he had the scars to prove it but his body had since been wiped clean of all blemishes by the touch of Rak’keli. That touch was made evident by the mark on the right side of his face as it stood however he was mute on the subject.

“I don’t know a whole lot about the gods. I just know that there are enough of them to keep the world running and too many of them to name off the top of my head.” He shrugged his shoulders. They sound of running water reached Aoren’s ears. They were nearing the banks of the Avitar River. Aoren veered off the main road foraging into the tree line. He cast a glance over his shoulder to make sure that Caesarion was still following him. They had been walking for some time by this point. Aoren was a little uncomfortable with the direction the conversation was going but he could understand why Caesar was prompted to ask such questions.

He stepped over some bushes and pushed them aside as much as he could to allow Isikai to get by without getting caught. Aoren was careful not to trip over the roots of the some of the larger trees as he walked. He was glad he had chosen to wear his leather pants as opposed to his cloth ones. He didn’t want to get scratched by something and end up with a rash. More questions rolled of Caesarion’s tongue. Aoren guessed that most of them were aimed at himself but he was prompted to answer a few of them as they made their way through the less open terrain under the canopy of the forest.

“Why does a god do anything? Because they are a god. I don’t really think that we can ever truly understand the height of their goals. They are timeless and immortal. We are small by comparison. I think that the gods choose the people who can be of help to them down the road.” Aoren wasn’t entirely certain of that. He had questions about his own goddesses easily enough but he was steadfast in his belief that they had blessed him for a reason. He was more certain of his reasoning with the Goddess of Healing than he was of the Goddess of Sight but his faith was still there.

Aoren pushed aside a low hanging branch to a tree revealing a small grove. It had enough space to set up the both of their tents. He guessed that the river was only a few minutes away if they continued east. He knew this only because he knew that the Avitar River lay to the East of Syliras along the road that lead them in the direction where Syna first rose in the morning. For the longer duration of their journey he would be forced to rely on a compass for a sense of direction.

“We’ve arrived.” He watched Isikai dart into the grove immediately rolling in the sparse grass playing in the dirt. The sight made Aoren smile. He was really beginning to grow fond of that dog. “And I don’t mind you being philosophical. I’m just…getting used to you again.”

Aoren didn’t expand on that statement. He just let it hang in the air as he moved into the area walking the perimeter just to get a good idea of what was there.

[Caesarion]

He wanted to help Aoren whenever he could. It was just a little funny to him that he'd start down the righteous path by means of raising a dog. Though that wasn't so bad. He thought Isikai was pretty cute too, and Max and Argos could use a friend outside of... Max and Argos. "I'd be happy to give it," he smiled faintly. The Drykas may have felt tense and uncomfortable around Caesarion, but it wasn't the same on vice-verse. He was happy to be here. He was happy to be camping, something he hadn't done since Rhaenon. He was happy to have a chance to hang around Aoren again, after screwing it all up so many seasons ago. He was also happy to be -- potentially -- gaining in some ability before being thrown once more into a new culture, and a new world. It would be a learning experience indeed, one way or another.

A little bit later down the road, he caught Aoren glancing at him. In response, he looked back and waved. That was sort of just his way of teasing him, but really he wondered what was on his mind. He also wondered how people had the gall to wear anything iron or steel, when he was already sweaty and uncomfortable just from the leather, scaled armor. His shield was damn heavy, and sometimes he felt like he wanted to just leave it on the road. His back was a source of murder right now. Luckily, he knew that after some months it would all feel like a second skin. Just not yet, just not right now.

Aoren spoke, talked about himself as a youth a bit. He said he was even more curious when he was younger, though Caesar honestly didn't get to know Aoren well enough to even think of him as curious. He remembered his fascination with magic and his job as a... philterer, if he recalled correctly. But that wasn't much to go on. It was funny, but he noticed a dynamic between himself and Aoren that was a little confusing. Even though they were far from close after what happened between them, they spoke as if they knew each other very well. As if they were -- by some form of the word -- exposed to each other. Perhaps that was why starting over was so difficult. It was because they spoke to each other like they'd already gone through this before, like there was stale air after a bitter summer some time ago. He couldn't seem to dispel that feeling when he spoke, or was spoken to. At this point, everything said between either seemed to remind him of at least one of his mistakes. That was a little tough to stomach after a while.

"I was a very morbid teenager," he started. He didn't need to give Aoren more reasons to mistrust him, but it was an honest truth. "I was almost Rhysol-level morbid. I hated the world and everyone in it. I lost myself to jealousy over my brother. I didn't think that there was any way I could ever escape the shadow of his colossus." He sighed. "I quickly changed from morbid and cynical to excitable and naive when I came to Syliras. Haha, I think I was just trying to be unique when I was younger." He certainly was unique. He locked himself away in his room, reading books about stupid things -- magic mostly. He learned of hypnotism there, honestly with the intention to protect himself from his brother. He'd already known reimancy -- his father got him into it as a young boy. However, he became fascinated with it at that age. It was a strange period of time, and he learned a lot that he refused to go back to now. He hadn't tried to increase his skill in magic in quite a while, though the resurgence of his hypnotism fancy did teach him a few new lessons.

Anyway, he started to stop his adventure back into his yester-years once he realized how divested he'd become. He was supposed to be focusing on the trip, not on his edgy youth.

On the subject of Gods, the Ravokian listened. He honestly felt like Aoren must've been holding something back, if that was all he had to say. He had been marked by two different Gods, which was more than almost every man was allowed. He garnered their attention, he was special. How? "You're a very cheeky man when you want to be," he said. It wasn't meant as an insult, it was sort of just a blind way of expressing frustration with Aoren's methods. He was so strong, but it all came natural to him, didn't it? How was that? He and Caesarion both endured very strange and strenuous lives, but one of them reacted in a totally different way; his mind clicked, and he became some soldier of infallible morality and then some. Caesarion, on the other hand, became an awfully bad comedian and a late-blooming philosopher.

When it came time to start adventuring through trees and leaves, he sort of just let Aoren lead the way. He watched him step over the brush and push them aside, maneuver over the roots and all the like, and then he followed suit. His dogs were a little more capable, so he didn't really have to baby them along the way. They were older and more experienced, trained and built for the wilds. Though they weren't exactly professional. He'd heard Max and Argos whimper a few times along the way because they stepped on a sharp thing or something of the like.

"Remember to check Isikai's paws every now and then, if we'll be traveling a lot. Dogs don't really have shoes like we do. Their pads are strong, but not immortal. It's definitely a problem if you let it get infected." That was a random word of wisdom, though an important one for when you were out in the wilds. Max and Argos have -- over time -- had a dozen and a half problems with their feet. He remembered that he couldn't even do his work for a week once, because Max needed to recover from a very unfortunate series of thorns.

When they made it to the grove, Caesarion let out a breath of relief. That meant he'd get to relax a while, maybe take off all the armor he'd been dragging along. He knew he'd have to get used to it, but killing his muscles wasn't the way to do that. He would have to develop his strength a little bit, most likely. Just another task in the long list of what he needed to do. Lovely.

As he sat down and set his shield on the floor, anxious to relax for a second, he looked up to look at Aoren as he spoke. The man narrowed his eyes slightly at his words, then closed them. He took a quick breath, and exhaled. Then, he replied. "Aoren, you're a great guy. Instead of cursing the fact that you ever walked up to me in that forlorn tent, you've decided to bear with me and move on. The fact that you're trying to get used to me again makes me happy, and I get that it'll be a while. I know I made a lot of mistakes." He stared quietly at the larger man, his lips closed shut. In his mind, he was dreading two things: one, a negative response from Aoren, and two, having to set up tent. The last time he tried, he was a lot younger. It was so intense.